Ancient Love
Chapter 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35
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Kang Jun stared down from the peak of Ling Shan Mountain. His eyes were cold, unfeeling...as he clutched his bloodied sword. Five to ten dead men lay on the ground behind him, all slain by his sword. They were bandits, bandits who hid under the darkness of the forest, preying on lonely rich travellers, but today they had made a big mistake by trying to steal Ou Kang Jun 's bag, and they had paid for it with their lives..."At last I've reached.." Kang Jun thought as he stared at the city at the foot of the mountain, the city which was about to finally get a glimpse of Ou Kang Jun's prowess.
"The infamous Ou Kang Jun has finally reached here...I wonder who's his next target.." Excited whispers could be heard as Kang Jun sat at a table in the tea shop. Qing Feng smiled grimly when he heard what was being said about him. Then, he was startled by another figure sitting down at his table. The person was a swordsman too, he had dropped his sword on the table...another worthy opponent? Kang Jun lifted his head to look who was this intruder, but instead, he saw a woman. She chatted excitedly with the waiter, the first thing that he noticed about her was her large captivating eyes, they gleamed as she talked, and she smiled a sweet smile. Kang Jun had never seen such a beauty before, much less a swordsman who was a woman. At last, his noodles arrived. Kang Jun picked up his chopsticks and tucked in hungrily, he had not eaten for 2 days. Aware that someone was staring at him, he looked up, and accidentally bumped heads with someone else. "Sorry, I was just feeling very hungry, and watching you eat...." The lady sitting opposite him rubbed her head and smiled a sheepish grin. Kang Jun was immediately drawn to her smile, but he quickly rebuked himself, "I cannot have feelings...my job is to kill, and to revenge only!" Kang Jun did not reply the lady, but just looked back down and tucked back into his food. "I guess that you must not be from this province....judging by your dressing, anyway, I'm not from here too, I've been away for 5 years..." The lady fingered the carvings on her sword. "No wonder she's not behaving hostile towards me, just like all the other people..." Kang Jun thought. The other patrons were whispering among themselves, who was that lady who dared to talk to him, the infamous killer?" "By the way, what's your name? I'm Li Yi, Liang Li Yi..." Li Yi did not seem to notice the fact that Kang Jun was not talking to her. Qing Feng mumbled, "Kang Jun , Ou Kang Jun ." "Kang Jun ? Nice name..." Li Yi bit into one of the buns that had just arrived on the table. "I need to go." Kang Jun dropped a few coins on the table and stood up. Li Yi did not bother to look up from the bun she was eating, but said with her mouth full, "Nice to meet you, hope to see you again..." Kang Jun watched the figure sitting at the table, why was she so child-like, so innocent? Nobody should treat Kang Jun like that, everyone knew, except her...
Kang Jun lay in his bed that night again, unable to sleep. Tomorrow would be a day of bloodshed, a day of great sadness..could he really bring himself to do it? But he had to...just like what he had done in all the other towns...Suddenly, Kang Jun heard the sound of someone falling down on the roof, he pulled out his sword, ready to fight the intruder, but instead, he saw a shadow hanging from the roof infront of his window, and with one kick, the shadow kicked open the window and swung himself in. Kang Jun immediately pointed his sword to the person's neck. But he pulled his sword back in shock when he saw who the intruder was, Liang Li Yi. Li Yi breathed a sigh of relief when the sword dropped down from her neck. "I'm really sorry, there were soldiers chasing after me, I stole one of their moneybags you see...." Li Yi said as she tried to dry herself.
Kang Jun watched Li Yi with great amusement and
sadness...running away from solidiers? On a roof? No ordinary woman would do
that...but didn't she know that she had ventured into the lion's den? He should
kill her on the spot now, he needed his privacy, but something prevented him
from doing that.
Li Yi brushed her wet hair away from her face, and looked up to thank the person
standing infront of her. The man had somewhat a shocked expression on her face,
and he looked strangely familiar...where had she seen him before? Then, a
picture of a man in white, bent over his bowl of noodles, hungrily tucking in.
"Aren't you....Ou Gong Zi?" She said, amazed at the coincidence. The
man replied with a nod. This man, he was strange...why was he so aloof towards
her? Not even a smile...
Kang Jun almost smiled at Li Yi's open mouth. She must be shocked at seeing him. But he could not help but stare at her wide-opened eyes, that held a twinkle in them. But he never expected her to ask, "Ou Gong Zi....could I have a favour?" "Speak." "May I...." Li Yi said nervously, would she really dare to ask this almost impossible question? "Sleep over here tonight? You know that the soldiers are after me...and I can't get a room in any inn anywhere, they're all booked...so I've been sleeping on the streets the past few nights..don't worry, I can sleep on the table or the floor...I won't mind.." Kang Jun was shocked at her request. A man and a woman, sleeping together in the same room? And they barely knew each other...But when a picture of a tired Li Yi cuddled up behind a stone pillar, trying to get warm came into his mind, Kang Jun could not withstand her pleading eyes. "Alright, I'm a man, so I'll take the floor, you take the bed." Kang Jun 's felt a flutter in his chest when Li Yi's eyes suddenly lit up and grinned.
Kang Jun felt his arm pulled by the impatient Li Yi. She had managed to persuade him to come out with her, to go shopping. He shouldn't even be here...he should be out killing those who didn't deserve to live....But Li Yi was sort of like a ray of sunshine, bringing happiness into his world of darkness...this morning, he had awoken to a smiling Li Yi, who had tickled his nose with a feather to get him to wake up, of course he didn't smile back at her, the world had killed his ability to smile.. He would be happy enough just to be friends with this special girl..but he didn't know whether he was able to.
Li Yi skipped through the crowds happily, her hand clutching onto Kang Jun's arm. She laughed quietly to herself when she remembered how she had woken him up, by using a feather...he had brushed her away and turned away, but she countinued to tickle his nose until he opened his eyes with an annoyed look on his face. She giggled softly. Then, she spotted a shop, not an ordinary one, it had kites of different designs and colours hung everywhere on it, and she quickly ran towards it, pulling Qing Feng with her.
Kang Jun felt himself being pulled somewhere, and they stopped infront of a shop, a shop where there were tens or twenties of kites hanging. Li Yi quickly chose one, it had a white dragon imprint on it and she turned to Qing Feng and asked, "Ou Gong Zi, do you have a tael of sliver to spare me? I have no money at the moment.." Kang Jun dug into his money pouch and pulled out a sliver tael, almost immediately, it got snatched from his palm by the impatient Li Yi who handed it to the shopkeeper. "Quick, let's go! Li Yi ran, dragging the powerless Kang Jun back into the crowds.
Li Yi spun in circles, breathing in the fresh air. They
were by the lakeside, where the grass was lush and a beautiful green, just like
it should be...She looked over at Kang Jun , who was standing near the water
edge, admiring the scenery. "Ou Gong Zi, come here! Help me to fly this
kite!" She shouted, and Kang Jun , hearing her voice, walked towards her.
She placed the end of the kite string into his hand and told him, "Hold on
to this tightly, run with me okay?" Without warning, she grabbed the kite
and started running. Kang Jun quickly ran after her, and Li Yi let go of the
kite. It soared into the sky, and was a beautiful sight, it looked as if the
dragon was looking after them, making sure that they were okay...Li Yi ran over
to Kang Jun , who was gazing up at the kite, and she gave him a big hug,
"Look, its flying!" Kang Jun was startled by her hug. He turned and
looked at Li Yi. Her hair was blowing in the wind, her cheeks red from running,
and she was jumping up and down shouting. Finally, the wind died down and Li Yi
fell on the ground, exhuasted.
She shut her eyes and smiled. Kang Jun looked over at the tired Li Yi, this was
probably the only day he had ever felt happiness since 11 years ago...thank god
for Li Yi...he thought.
Kang Jun tossed and turned, what was that strange tune? It didn't allow him to sleep, but kept nagging him. Giving up, he opened his sleepy eyes and sat up. Where was Li Yi? The room was empty, but Li Yi hadn't left, he knew, as she had left her sword on the table. The music was coming from the roof, it was a strange tune, a beautiful one, but he had never heard it before, but why was it so sad....Opening the door of his room, he crept down to the bottom floor of the inn, all was quiet, everyone was asleep, Kang Jun strode out to the street. Moving back, he caught a sight of Li Yi, it was definately her, who else did he know loved to jump on roofs? Quietly flying up, he stood there and watched Li Yi, and he was enthralled by the music. Li Yi threw herself into the tune that she was playing, letting all her sadness, worries and unhappiness to be absorbed by the tune, and to let it all out. Finally, the song ended and she put down her flute. Kang Jun watched as Li Yi used her sleeve to wipe her tears away. Li Yi? Cry? Over the 2 and a half weeks that Li Yi had stayed in his room, he had never seen her show any sadness, everyone loved her happy-go-lucky character, the restaurant waiters, the physician, even the old woman who sold vegetables at a corner alley. Li Yi slowly stood up, sensing someone was watching her, she turned. Kang Jun. What was he doing here? Li Yi smiled and walked towards him, and patted his shoulder. "Its late, go back to sleep, I only came out for some fresh air." And she jumped down carefully to the street. Kang Jun followed her, but he could not take his eyes off the flute that was hanging from her belt.
Li Yi walked beside Kang Jun down the street. It wasn't as crowded as it usually was, as that day wasn't market day. Her curious eyes examined everything, and her quick mind was also thinking of ways to make the expressionless Kang Jun smile. They were good friends now, at least, he was one to her, she never knew what Kang Jun was exactly thinking, as his face rarely showed any expression. But he had taken her out daily, humoured her by helping her fly her kite, and basically just talked to her. Or maybe she talked to him, he didn't reveal much about his life at all, so, she didn't know much about his background. But he had spent time with her, curing her boredom, and that was enough. " Haw candy! Ou Gong Zi, quick, money!" Kang Jun passed her a coin and she eagerly ran over to the man who was holding sticks and sticks of haw candy. She chose one and ran back to Kang Jun. "Want a lick?" Li Yi offered. Kang Jun shook his head. He remembered eating this when he was a very young boy, but the way Li Yi ate it was amusing, she licked the candy from down to up, and up to down again. Her face had on a cheeky smile as she enjoyed the sweet taste of the candy. Suddenly, Kang Jun felt his moneybag being snatched from his belt. Turning around, he saw a small little boy running away, his hand clutching the bag. "Li Yi!" He shouted for her, and quickly ran after him.
Li Yi held the haw candy stick, and ran after Kang Jun. They reached an alley, and Kang Jun was holding a little boy by his clothes, and the little boy was struggling to get free. "Why did you steal my moneybag? Why have your parents been teaching you?" Kang Jun lifted his hand, about to strike the boy, but Li Yi rushed up to the small boy and shielded him, "Ou Gong Zi, don't you have any compassion? Look at this boy, his clothes are all tattered and torn, he must be starving! Take pity on him please..." The boy started crying and Li Yi stared at Kang Jun. He slowly pulled his hand down. Li Yi stroked the small boy's head and held his little hand. She slowly wiped his tears away using her sleeve, " Little boy, don't cry, you're going to grow up to be a big man, and men don't cry, you understand? Quick, jie jie will buy you something to eat okay?" She slowly lead the boy out into the street and Kang Jun followed them curiously. She pulled the boy to the haw candy seller and pulled out a coin from her pocket and handed it to the man. The man gave a stick to the small boy, the small boy stared up at Li Yi, and then looked at the candy with disbelieving eyes, Would this person really be so kind to him? "Go on, its all yours." Li Yi assured him. The small boy grinned and happily sucked on the delicously sweet candy. It was a delicacy for him. The small boy suddenly pulled Li Yi on her sleeve, as if asking her to follow him, and ran off. Li Yi quickly ran after him, and Kang Jun quickly followed along.
The boy brought them to an abandoned temple. Li Yi gazed at the structure, which was once glorious and prestigious, but now it was in ruins. "This is your home?" The boy did not take his eyes off the temple but sadly nodded in answer to her question. Kang Jun was not shaken like Li Yi, he had seen many of these 'homes' in his lifetime, why, he had even lived in one before....The boy took Li Yi's hand and led her into the temple. "Die, Niang, I'm back!" He shouted. A couple, the mother holding a young girl's hand walked out. They were all thin to the bone, and their clothes were tattered and torn. The father was a little hunchbacked, but he stared at the newcomers with great interest. "Xiao Deng, where were you.." The mother scolded, she opened her arms, and the small boy ran into them and hugged her. He looked up and pointed to Li Yi, "Niang, this jie jie helped me, I stole a moneybag and she helped me..." He looked at Kang Jun and then looked down, embarassed. "She also bought me a stick of candy to eat...here, take this Xiao Mei, I saved some for you." He held it out, and the little girl took it eagerly and sucked it. It was the first time that she had probably tasted such a simple sweet. The boy had eaten less than half of the candy, and Li Yi's heart grew warm as she thought of the great love the small boy had for his sister, even though they lived in such poverty. "Thank you, I'm really sorry that my son stole your moneybag, we're just too poor to provide for any of them. My husband used to write letters for people to earn some money, but nowadays, more people are getting an education, and my husband had to stop writing, as he has penominia, and we have no money to pay for the medical bills..." The lady said, but the man remained silent, his eyes downcast. Li Yi immediately understood. She quickly snatched Kang Jun's moneybag from his belt, and emptied out 3 sliver taels. "Take it, cure your husband quickly, and then get him to start work again." She put the taels into the woman's hands, and the woman stared at the money with overwhelming gratitude. "Thank you...oh thank you so much..." The woman almost cried. Li Yi smiled at the poor family, but Kang Jun didn't even flinch at the touching scene.
Li Yi stirred as she heard Kang Jun pick up his sword, and slam the doors after him. Curious, she got up and picked up her sword, and sleathily followed him down the stairs and out into the street...
Kang Jun waited patiently infront of the abandoned temple. At last, in the early part of the morning, when it was still dark, a hunch-backed, grey haired man stepped out of the door way. Kang Jun's eyes settled on the man, it was a stare of pure hate...hate that had never ceased. The man sensed that someone was watching him and looked up. Scared stiff, he stood still. Suddenly, a young boy ran out of the temple and stood infront of the man. Glancing at the gleaming sword in Kang Jun's hand, he shouted, "What are you doing here? Please...please...don't kill my father..." The boy wept. Kang Jun paid no head to the boy's crying but lifted his sword and started walking towards the man. Without warning, another figure ran up the the boy and his father and shield the both of them. Li Yi. What was she doing here? Wasn't she asleep? "Ou Gong Zi, what are you doing? Why do you want to kill them? Can you bear to rip this young child of his innocence? This man still needs to provide for his family...no, this is not the person I spent the past 2 and a half weeks with, not the person who gave in to my every whim, who willingly followed me everywhere...the person who became my best friend..Ou Kang Jun, I never expected you to be a cold-blooded killer.." Li Yi angrily spat the words out, she never expected this man to be such a person, how could she have been so stupid? Mixing with this person...she should have known judging from the frightened looks she saw on people's faces whenever they walked down the street....she was so wrong...so so wrong...Kang Jun's heart welled up with sorrow when he saw the disappointment on Li Yi's face, but he could not push what he came here for away just because of her. He took a step forward and said, "Li Yi, go away, you don't know what evil things this man has done to my family...he killed my sister, my beautiful vibrant sister..and he needs to pay..." Each word was spat out, filled with hate. The man's face suddenly lit up, realizing why Kang Jun was there for. He slowly picked up his young son and gave him to Li Yi to carry, and then moved out from behind Li Yi. "Ou Gong Zi, yes, I remember you..I've been thinking of that one person whom I had killed for 15 long years already...I regret it...I think of all the blood...I don't know why I did it, it was an order from my superior, do it or die...that was a terrible mistake...a terrible terrible mistake.." Without hesitating, the man pulled Li Yi's sword from her belt and stabbed himself in the stomach, and then pulled the sword out, and dropped to the ground. "Father!" The boy screamed and pulled Li Yi's hands away. The dying man, slowly tried to talk, "I'm..........very........sorry......Ou.....Gong Zi..." And he shut his eyes and passed away. The boy fell on his dead father and cried sorrowfully, suddenly, he stood up and pointed to Kang Jun, "You...you...you killed my father, I hate you!" Kang Jun stood there, shocked. The man had killed himself. But now he was blamed for everything..He looked at the still Li Yi. A expression of horror and shock was written on her face as she picked up her bloodied sword. "Li Yi.." Kang Jun took a step closer to her. "No...don't come near me, I don't know you, I hate you!" She ran off. "Li Yi!" Kang Jun took another look at the crying son and his dead father on the ground, but he knew he had to explain everything to Li Yi, and ran off after her.
Kang Jun slowly took a step, and another, and another step closer to Li Yi. Her back was facing him, and she was facing the lake. She looked like a statue, not moving, except for her long hair which was blowing in the night wind. "Li Yi....let me explain." He said. "Ou Gong Zi, please leave me alone, we have nothing more to do with each other." Kang Jun felt like someone had punched him in the stomach. "Li Yi, didn't you call me your best friend just now? Please...just let me explain.." He was in despair, he didn't want to lose this friendship...no...not now..."Get lost Kang Jun! I hate you!" She shouted. Kang Jun could not stand it any longer, and ran up to Li Yi and grabbed her shoulders. "Li Yi! Listen!" Li Yi struggled, but couldn't pull off his strong hands. "Li Yi, give me one chance to explain, and I'll leave, okay?" Kang Jun asked. Li Yi nodded her head, not knowing what else to do. "Sit down." He beckoned to Li Yi.
"I came from a rich family, the Ou family, my father was famous for his prowess in his martial arts, Ou Tang Liang, you've probably heard of him." Kang Jun took a deep breath. "I was the youngest in my family, pampered and loved, I got everything I got....but until one night, men invaded our estate, strange men that I had never seen before, they just came in and started slashing everyone and everything, my sister was murdered right infront of me, by that man at the temple...my mother, I could hear her screaming, screaming for mercy and for the lives of my older siblings, while my father, acid was poured on him and he was stabbed countless times...my own sister, that man killed her Li Yi! Don't you understand how I feel....I was only 10 at that time, and I shivered with fear as I heard the screams of pain from underneath the bed, I buried my whole family myself, and wandered around the countryside for weeks, hungry and tired, until an old monk picked me up, a highly-skilled monk, who trained me carefully. My goal since young has been to revenge my family Li Yi, I live for that only." Kang Jun voice held a note of great sadness as he told his story. Li Yi listened to every word of it intently, she could not help but pity this young man, his own childhood ruined by hate, and that young boy, plauged by the word hate, she suddenly had the urge to hug, and comfort Kang Jun....but, no, everything was so wrong. Li Yi stood up and shouted at Kang Jun, "Kang Jun...hate...revenge, its all about these two words isn't it....do you really live on hate? How about love...love between lovers, love between friends...love between family...my mother too, was killed...killed by a lover, a lover whose love my mother didn't reciprocate...my mother died when I was 7, killed in my very own bedroom, as she stroked my head and told me to sleep..yet, I don't hate or seek revenge, for I live on love, I believe that there is love in this world, I live for my father, for the people around me, who love me the way I am..I don't want to change just because of myself, but sometimes, I wish that I was you, selfish and unkind, trying to get rid of the everlasting fire of hate in my heart, but I know I can't because I live a life of passion, of love, I don't hate you anymore Ou Kang Jun, but I don't think that two people like us can be friends, two people, one filled with hate while the other one with love, goodbye Kang Jun..." Li Yi's voice trailed off as she ran off crying....
Li Yi's eyes grew wider as she read each word of the letter. In a sudden burst of anger, she picked up the wine jar infront of her and threw it angrily on to the street. "Why....why must life be so cruel to me....and why on this day?" She sobbed.
Kang Jun stood on the rooftop of an old abandoned building at the edge of town. He could see Li Yi's figure sitting in front of him. He was coming to look for her, to find out what that strange feeling in his chest was...
Li Yi sobbed angrily into her arms, life was just so unfair...but why? Suddenly, she felt a hand rest on her shoulder, "Li Yi." A familier voice called out her name. Kang Jun. Forgetting everything that had happened, she turned and threw herself into his arms, sobbing loudly. All the sadness and pain that she had kept shelled up for the last 11 years was finally all flowing out...all flowing out in one go.
Kang Jun's mouth dropped when Li Yi turned and hugged him. Not really knowing what to do, he just patted her back and stroked her head, just like how his mother comforted him when he cried. His face scrinched up in a look of sadness, why was she crying? What had made this beautiful, lively, carefree girl cry? Could it be........be Kang Jun himself? For the first time in his life, Kang Jun finally felt a sense of guilt weighing down on his chest.
Li Yi breathed in deeply and smiled as she resminced. "Today is my late mother's death aniversary. When my mother was still alive, she was known for her great beauty in the Central Plains, men, even after she got married, still showed up at our doorstep, sending flowers and jewellery, just hoping to catch a glance of my mother. But my mother loved my father deeply, and stayed faithful to him. My mother played the flute, this flute is hers." Li Yi gently pulled the flute out from her belt and twirled it around in her fingers, allowing Kang Jun to see its delicate carvings. "She was a genius in the flute, and she loved to play it by the lake, early in the morning, and I would sit behind her, admiring the music, and the mere image of my mother. She patiently taught me to play the flute when I was 5, and I too, would sit alone by the lake, trying to place my tiny fingers over the holes of a little wooden flute she had given me. She was a gifted woman, but she was taken away from me just in one night..." Li Yi's eyes welled up with tears again. "She was in my room, telling me a story before putting me to bed, and then, some sort of arrow or dart, shot through the rice paper windows, sinking itself in her neck. I then saw a figure, running away into the woods behind our estate, my mother collapsed on my bed, dead. I was only 7 at that time, seeing my lovely mother, unmoving, sprawled on my bed, I started to scream. I screamed, and screamed, and screamed....The next morning, my father came to my room and told me that my mother was killed by a jealous lover, the dart had poison in it...I was filled with rage, and a desire for revenge at that time...but my father told me to forget about it, I couldn't risk my life, my late mother wouldn't want me to do so, my family wouldn't want me to do so, and my father wouldn't want me to do so. I did it, all because they loved me, I was my parent's only child, and my grandparent's only grand-daughter, I did it all for love. But, there are still nights, when I wake up and think of my mother. I start crying, and I fill up with a thirst for revenge, I want to find my mother's killer so much, just like you want to find the killers of your family, but I know I can't do it, for other people's sakes. But I still regret alot of things....like, I shouldn't have requested for a bedtime story that night, and she might not be dead if I hadn't insisted on one...and that I never did learn the flute soon enough to let my mother listen to me, and to be proud of me...and that I never did find out what was bothering her during her last days, because she had a worried expression constantly on her face, and she played the flute all the time...from day to night...oh, how I wish..." Another tear trickled down from Li Yi's eye, but, strangely, she felt better after telling Kang Jun everything. It was just so hard, shelling it all up for 11 long years, trying to be the innocent, happy-go-lucky Li Yi, who loved everyone around her..
Kang Jun looked at Li Yi, who hastily wiped a tear that trickled down her cheek...at least he knew that it wasn't really his fault. But, he was probably the one who brought the bad memories of her mother's death back to her. And when she cried in his arms....Kang Jun felt a warm sensation flow through his body. "But....that's not my only unhappy thought...I've just got news from home today...5 years ago, I went to my grand uncle's home in the mountains, to learn martial arts. He was a hermit, and I didn't have any contact with my family or friends for 5 years, so I don't know how they are doing now...and today, a letter came. Informing me that my uncle had died. Of a strange illness that the doctors couldn't understand...My uncle was extremely close to me, he was my youngest uncle, only 9 years older than me...I loved him dearly...he was the one to bring me out to buy sweets, to comfort me when I cried for my mother, to play with me when I was lonely...and he was taken away too...why must everything dear to me be taken away, and its always on this day....today, my birthday." Li Yi's eyes shone in the moonlight.
Kang Jun undressed and slowly stepped into the lake. He had specially found a spot behind trees and bushes, where he could wash quietly, without any disturbance, and a place which Li Yi would surely not come to. There was one thing he didn't understand, whereever he went, his mind was immediately filled with thoughts of Li Yi, like what she was doing now, whether she was okay...."Its just brotherly love, we have a brother and sister relationship, just a platonic one." He whispered under his breath, brushing away any obsecure thought he might have about her. Suddenly, he heard the sound of someone sputtering water, turning around quickly, he was shocked to see.. "Li Yi! What are you doing here?" Li Yi coughed twice, "Today's a very hot day, and...and I decided to go for a swim, I didn't expect to see you..." "Hot day? Swim? Fully clothed?" Kang Jun stared disapprovingly of Li Yi, whose clothes were soaked to the bone, and her hair in a disarray. "Fully clothed? Of course...do you think that I would swim half-naked in the lake, there could be people around, don't be like my old father...always trying to teach me how to be more lady-like...Speaking of people around, you were taking a bath, weren't you?" Li Yi focused on Kang Jun's bare chest and started 'walking' around him. "You...." Li Yi was cut short when she suddenly slipped, just in time, Kang Jun caught her, "You better be more careful..." Kang Jun stopped talking when he saw Li Yi's big, trusting eyes staring up at him. He suddenly felt a voice repeating itself in his mind, "Kiss her....kiss her....kiss her..." Kang Jun was in a dilemna, should he? Then, Li Yi, her cheeks flushed red, pulled away from him. "I....I...I have to go, sorry." Without looking back, she quickly waded back to the bank, leaving Kang Jun staring after her.
Li Yi ran from the lake, her cheeks all flushed red, "Was he going to kiss me?" Li Yi thought frantically. That look..in his eyes, his eyes had gone all glassy and he was staring at her with this...this strange look. But, did she want him to kiss her? Li Yi stopped running. Did she? But..but they were like brother and sister, Li Yi lifted her fingers up to her lips. But, how would it really feel to have Kang Jun kiss her, to feel his lips on hers..."No, no.....its not possible, not possible at all!" Li Yi rebuked herself, and started running into the woods again.
Li Yi watched as Kang Jun's face suddenly dropped. She had been walking around thinking, thinking about relationships, thinking about her mother, thinking that if her mother or uncle was still alive, they could have advised her, helped her. Throughout the day, she had been thinking about Kang Jun. She didn't love him right? They were just two good friends, helping each other through the agony of losing someone close to them. But, Li Yi could not get the feeling that she was lying to herself off her chest...Wasn't it impossible? She couldn't love someone that lived a life of hatred right?
Kang Jun gazed at Li Yi's gentle face, she looked so innocent, so vunerable, her eyes were shut, and she had a sweet smile on her face. Walking towards the window quietly, he jumped down to the street below and ran out into the darkness.
Kang Jun silently sat by the lake, trying to carve out a dragon on a large pebble. It was supposed to be for Li Yi, after all, they had been good friends, and he wanted her to have something to remember him by, something to keep forever, to remind her of the precious friendship that they had, even after he left....."What are you doing here? Trying to steal something? Thief! Thief!" Kang Jun's head turned around as quick as lightning, an old man stood there, holding an axe, his eyes close together, pointing the sword at Kang Jun. Dropping the stone in his pocket, he turned to face the old man. "Me? A thief?" The old Kang Jun had arisen again, he drew his sword out and pointed it at the old man ferociously. The old man dropped his axe on the ground, knees shaking, he fell on his knees. "I'm...I'm very sorry Gong Zi...I didn't mean it, I was drunk.." "Disturbing me was the worst mistake that you could have done, Gong Gong." Kang Jun drew his hand back and was about to stab the sword into the old man when some hard object flew rapidly out of the bushes and hit his sword away. "Kang Jun. You have not forgotten your old ways." A ashen-faced Li Yi stepped out. Disbelieving the situation that she was now seeing. "Lao Gong Gong, you can go now, don't worry, no one's going to kill you." She walked over and helped the old man up, smiling a smile that she could barely manage to show. Nodding his head with gratitude, the man scurried off into the trees.
"Kang Jun...does everything really have to come down to hate? I thought we could work this out together, throw away the hatred from our lives...but, Kang Jun, you don't know how much you have disappointed me." Li Yi whispered, just loud enough for Kang Jun to hear. "Li Yi, you don't understand...I was..." Kang Jun fingered the smooth pebble in his pocket, no, he couldn't give it to her now, he hadn't finished it, he just need a little more time...Li Yi would understand, she would listen to his explaination, wouldn't she? "Li Yi, just trust me, I wouldn't have killed the old man, it was just that, memories of my father came to my mind, I was jealous, jealous that I didn't have someone like that old man to teach me, to make sure no theives came near the house, to take care of me.." "Kang Jun. Save your words. Please. You would have killed the man, you know it, don't lie to me." Kang Jun felt a blow in his stomach. In his heart, he knew what Li Yi said was true, he would have killed the old man. Could he really have turned evil, merciless? Li Yi took a deep breath. "Kang Jun, now I know, I had really made friends with the wrong person, I shouldn't have talked to you again after that night, friendship between us is impossible Kang Jun...I'm leaving..." A tear trickled down the corner of Li Yi's eye. It was a tear of sadness, a tear of disappointment, a tear of a lost friendship, and possibly, a tear of a broken heart? Li Yi turned and walked away from the lost for words Kang Jun. He stared after her, his mind in a jumble, what was he going to do now? Suddenly, it started raining, Li Yi started running, and running......Then, Kang Jun knew what to do, he started running after her.."Li Yi!!!"
Kang Jun stared after her, could her really bear to give her up? Or could he not be only giving up a friendship but something deeper, love? His skin tingled from her hug, and his shoulder was wet from her tears...Lifting his hands to his mouth..he shouted...
Kang Jun slowly strolled, taking a peek here and there back at Li Yi. Why wasn't she walking away? Wasn't she the one who wanted to leave? Then, he saw her Li Yi lift up her sleeve and wiped a tear from her face, why was she crying? Li Yi seemed deep in thought...she kept fingering the stone that he had given her, could it be because...Did he really have the courage to tell her? It was his last chance...but if she loved him she wouldn't be leaving now right? She couldn't love someone like him...he was too, too impure...Oh heck, he had to do it, she would probably the only woman he would ever love, he had to let her know..."Li Yi. I have something to say..."
Li Yi turned around at the sound of Kang Jun's voice, what did he want to say now? "Li Yi, you said that we weren't friends anymore, I know we can't be, I'm too imperfect for you...you were always the perfect girl, the perfect friend in my eyes...And Li Yi, you said that we can't be friends forever, we would grow old, marry someone we love, have children someday...Li Yi, our friendship died, but can't something else happen?" Li Yi held her breath as she waited for Kang Jun's next sentance.."I love you Li Yi..." Kang Jun whispered, there, he had finally said it. "What? I can't hear you.." Li Yi grew anxious, what did he say? "I said...I said, that I love you.." Kang Jun repeated. "What? Kang Jun, please speak up.." Kang Jun breathed deeply in, he had said it 2 times already, why couldn't she hear him? "I said I love you Li Yi! I know that I'm not good enough for you, but I couldn't help falling in love with you? Who wouldn't? Your eyes that are full of innocence, a desire to find out everything, a heart that filled with kindness, and which helped you to become my friend, even though I'm a sadistic killer, and...and you were always so special, so full of life.." Kang Jun shouted out. Did Kang Jun just say that? Did he tell her that he loved her? The introvert Kang Jun shouting it out over the field? "Forget it Li Yi, forget that I ever told you...goodbye.." Kang Jun, judging from the response from Li Yi, turned and started to walk away, she didn't love him..."No! Kang Jun! Don't leave! I...I love you too!" Li Yi ran towards the now stunned Kang Jun and hugged him. Tears of happiness came streaming out of her eyes, while the stunned Kang Jun looked on, did she...she did! Slowly putting his hands over her, he hugged her back..Then, lifting her chin up, and staring into those large, ever beautiful eyes of hers, his face tilted down towards hers, and their lips met. Kissing softly at first, then hungrily, at last, the kiss they had been waiting so long for..Kang Jun immersed himself in the kiss, feeling her soft lips against his, it just felt so good...Then, after a long while, their lips parted. Kang Jun hugged Li Yi tightly to his chest, she was his now..they were going to be together, he would never leave her..Suddenly, the sides of his mouth started to twitch, and Kang Jun's mouth, finally curved into a smile. He had learnt how to smile again.
Kang Jun smiled down Li Yi. He still couldn't believe, did he really say those words to Li Yi? He could never picture himself saying such romantic things, but it was all worth it, Li Yi loved him! But, imagine if he didn't tell her..Kang Jun felt a shudder down his spine, they wouldn't be here, under the dark night sky, admiring the stars together. "Li Yi, are you sure that you really love me?" He asked, still unsure. "Of course, you silly pig, aren't I here with you? And if you ever leave me, I will tear you to pieces!" Li Yi pinched Kang Jun's nose playfully. So, he wasn't in a dream after all, grabbing hold of Li Yi tightly, he kissed her softly of her cheek, and smiled.
"Young man, I have been looking all around China for you." Kang Jun glanced back to see an old woman standing behind him. Li Yi had gone out to the market, and he was alone at the lake. "Who are you?" "Don't you remember me? I was your mother's good friend, Cheng Sao, that day after I returned to the town, and was told that your whole family had died, I was so shocked...but when I went to the place where you buried your parents, I found that your grave was not among them, so I knew that you were still alive. Kang Jun, I know who killed your parents."
Kang Jun sighed contendedly when he saw the sleeping Li Yi. She had already been asleep when he got back, as he had spent his whole afternoon pondering over the matter. But, seeing Li Yi's face, he knew that he couldn't leave her, because loving her was the best thing that had ever happened to him.
"Wait, wait! You've got it all wrong! This finger over this hole, not the other way around!" Li Yi grabbed Kang Jun's finger and pressed it down over another hole. "Now, blow." Blowing gently into it, a sweet sound came out of it. "Good! Wait, now, listen." Lifting her own flute to her lips, Li Yi blew into it. Her fingers looked as if they were dancing, as they swiftly covered and uncovered the holes. She looked exactly like an angel that had just floated up to heaven. Kang Jun was mesmerized. Without realizing it, the music had stopped. "Kang Jun, have you gotten it? Kang Jun?" Li Yi snapped her fingers infront of Kang Jun's face, waking him up from his dream. "What? The flute?" Clumsily shifting his fingers from one hole to another and blowing into the flute, instead of blowing a beautiful song, out came out like what seemed to be the song which the monks sang. "Wrong, wrong, wrong! Kang Jun, can you pay attention? This finger here, that finger there, and don't blow so harshly into it!" Li Yi sighed and fell down onto the soft grass. "What am I going to do, I'm so unlucky to get a student like you..." Laughing, Kang Jun fell down beside her and kissed her forehead, he was so lucky, how could such a great thing happen to a man like him?
De Long told his men to stay behind, and walked out of the restaurant alone, to the alley where Li Yi was waiting. "What do you want?" She said in a brusquely voice. "Why bother looking for me now? I was lost, after coming out of the mountains, it was a good thing I wasn't kidnapped or anything, so why now?" De Long felt a jab at his heart, did Li Yi hate him now? "Li Yi, we knew where you were all along, your father has people everywhere, how do you think we knew where to send the letter bearing news of 7th uncle's death?" De Long tried to convince Li Yi. Didn't she know that he still loved her? It was a terrible thing, carrying that secret with him all this while, and he didn't have any chance to tell her. "De Long, then why? What's the reason for coming here? I don't want to go back, I'm happy and contended here." Her voice was full of spite, full of anger that no one had seemed to care. "Your father wants you to go back. He knows of your relationship with that, swordsman." De Long felt another jab at his spine as he thought of Li Yi and that what was his name again? Ou Kang Jun behaving intamately, he couldn't let her be decieved any longer. "What? I will not go back, never...you have changed De Long." De Long grew stiff at her words. She was staying for that flithy swordsman? That scumbag who killed people as he pleased? His voice took on a hard tone, "Li Yi, you cannot change your fate, you have to go back, your father has instructed me and a few of our best men to kill Ou Gong Zi if you don't go back." Li Yi stepped back in misbelief. Kill Kang Jun? Her eyes shone with fear as she thought of that possibility. She knew of her father's strength and power, and although she was not really knowledgable in how higly-skilled Kang Jun was, could she take the chance? "De Long, no, father can't do this...he can't.." She whispered, her voice trembling. "Of course he can Li Yi, so, will you go back with me?" De Long felt a wave of triumphant flow through his body. Looking at Li Yi, she was probably going to give in, but how he would love to kill that bloody swordsman, who had stolen the heart of his beloved Li Yi...."Very well De Long, I will go back, but let me spend one more day here, please." Her eyes took on a sad look as she looked away. "Very well, tomorrowat nightfall, after everyone has gone to sleep, I will come for you." And he turned and left.
No...no, this could not be happening. Kang Jun hands
shook as he picked up the letter that lay silently on the table. Scanning the
room, he saw that all of Li Yi's things were gone, her bed was neatly made,
there was no sign that she had even been there before. He read the letter in
disbelief...
Kang Jun,
You probably hate me now, but I'm sorry, I really am. I don't love you, I just
pitied you that's all, I realized that there's no hope in this relationship, I
was a fool to think that I would grow to love you. Don't get me wrong, I still
remember the times when you comforted and talked to me, but I shouldn't decieve
the both of us any longer. Please, I beg you, do not come looking for me, if
fate allows it, we shall meet again...
Your Friend,
Li Yi
She didn't love him? That couldn't be...what happened to the time when they had shared a loving glance, or just a simple touch...he had so many questions, but there was no way that they could be answered any longer...Deceving him! How could she..but as hard as Kang Jun wanted, there was no way that he could hate her...never..
Kang Jun stood still in the dark forest, pictures of Li Yi kept flooding his mind, he had not slept for days already, haunted by the very memories of Li Yi..Pulling out his sword, he started slashing the bushes and trees around him, leashing out every ounce of anger in him...leaves flew from all directions, and at last, Kang Jun dropped down to the floor, exhausted..He panted, trying to catch his breath, when suddenly everything blacked out. Kang Jun's body drooped, and he sprawled onto the floor with a dead-like slump.
"Kang Jun, wake up..." A gentle voice called him. Opening his eyes, his eyes came into focus on a smiling, slightly grey-haired lady. She held out a bowl of medicine, and helped him to sit up. "Where am I? And who are you?" Why did he feel so groggy, so tired? The lady busied herself around the room, picking up a wet cloth to put on Kang Jun's forehead, "Don't you remember? I'm Cheng Sao..I found you in the forest while I was picking herbs, and helped you back to my cottage that was nearby." Smiling, she picked up the bowl of medicine and spoon fed Kang Jun a mouthful. His eyes wandered over the room. It was a quaint little cottage, built of bamboo, but it seemed to be steady and cosy, and the air was refreshing...no wonder he had never met her in the city before apart from that time, she lived so deep in the forest. "You were running a high fever when I found you, what have you been doing? Look at those large eyebags under your eyes, I wonder what your mother would say if she was still...." Cheng Sao stopped short when she realized that she had said the wrong thing. "Cheng Sao, its okay, I..I became sick because I was very depressed, some one very close to me left.." Kang Jun eyes stared down, Cheng Sao patted his hand and asked, "Your loved one perhaps?" Kang Jun nodded, his eyes fixed to the floor. He was like a small boy, whose sweets had just been taken away, stolen...Cheng Sao left the room quietly, smiling to herself. At least Kang Jun wasn't distracted now, he could focus, on the thing that he was supposed to have done so many years ago...
Kang Jun ran his fingers over the carvings of the holder of the sword. Pulling the sword out with a sudden 'whoosh' a shiver ran through him. It was a familier feeling, the feeling of long-awaited hunger, hunger for revenge had returned. And nothing, nothing would stop him.
"You...you dare to talk back at me?" Li Yi's father slapped her across her face, pushing her to the floor. Li Yi's eyes welled up with tears, why did her once loving father become like that? She had barely said a few words...and this..."Die..." "Don't call me your father! Not even a letter, and refusing to come back, don't forget that you have a family!" Her father shouted down at his red-eyed daughter, with not an ounce of sympatathy in his voice. "Xiao Jie, your bath is ready." Li Yi's maid, Xiao Shan appeared at the door, but when she saw Li Yi lying on the floor, she quickly looked down. "Go. And think about your mistakes." Li Yi's father ordered. Clutching her hurt cheek, she ran out of the door.
"Xiao Shan, where's my bath?" Li Yi rubbed her cheek, but she didn't notice the pain. Instead, her heart was hurting more...the loss of a loving father and mentor.."Xiao Jie, Xiao Shan is very sorry, I lied to get you away from Master." Li Yi stared at amazement at her maid, her maid who had been her playmate and confident since young, "Xiao Shan, you're grown braver! I never expected you to help me...thank you!" Li Yi hugged Xiao Shan happily, at least there was someone who still cared..."Xiao Jie, does your cheek still hurt? I'll get a warm cloth for you..." Xiao Shan turned to go, but Li Yi quickly stopped her, "Xiao Shan, tell me, why has happened to Die...why, doesn't he love me anymore?" An expression of sorrow spread across her face, and she buried her face in his hands. "Xiao Jie...Master..right after you left, he started doing some very wrong things..he killed many of our disciples who he assumed as unworthy to be a disciple of our sect..and he never did come and talk to us like he used to..Master have changed, no, no, I'm sorry, Xiao Shan shouldn't have said that..." "Xiao Shan, don't worry...Die has changed, but why?" Li Yi put her hand around Xiao Shan and comforted her, she need comforting herself..but Kang Jun, she would never see him again..
"Kang Jun, look at this, someone came this afternoon to deliver it to you." Cheng Sao handed him a brown envelope. Kang Jun slid the letter out of its cover and read it. "Its an invatation from Liang Liu Chen. His daughter is getting married, he wants us there to witness the brethoral." Kang Jun stared at the two words, getting married. Li Yi and him would have been married now if she had really loved him...no, he should think about her! He should hate her..hate her to the core. "Kang Jun! Don't you see..its an opportunity to get revenge! Kang Jun...its probably your only chance, the heaven's are helping you..." Kang Jun slid the letter back into the envelope. "Yes Cheng Sao, Liang Liu Chen will regret that he ever laid a hand on the Ou Family."
"Xiao Jie, is what you say all true?" Xiao
Shan asked from the bed. Li Yi was sitting at the dresser, combing her lovely
long black hair. Her eyes were filled in wonder on hearing what her mistress had
experience during her absence, falling in love with another man..She blushed
upon thinking of a man, Yun Dan, a disciple of the sect. But her mistress' story
had been so tragic, she had to leave him...because of love.."Yes Xiao Shan.
Xiao Shan, he must hate me now...I told him that I decieved him..." Li Yi's
mind started to fill up with thoughts of him, what he was doing at the
moment...everything..."Xiao Shan, if only everything was different, if only
I wasn't who I am...if only I didn't meet Kang Jun, I wouldn't been suffering
now.." Li Yi squeezed the comb tightly, and with a
'snap' it broke into two pieces.
Kang Jun sat at the table, watching as the various leaders of the pugilistic world chatted happily with each other, some even commenting on the beauty of the bride to be. Kang Jun had finally convinced that he didn't love Li Yi anymore, swordsman couldn't fall in love, Cheng Sao had said..it would only bring them disaster...But the thing Kang Jun missed the most was his ability to smile. He had tried pushing up the corners of his mouth each night, but somehow, his ability to smile had just flown away like Li Yi...Finally, claps could be heard, and people were standing up, welcoming Liang Liu Chen. Kang Jun stared at the man, he was even handsome in his old age, but all Kang Jun could think of was kill...kill...kill...He could feel that man's blood on his fingers already...but no, it had to wait, he must enjoy this. "Thank you all for coming..as you know, today, my daughter will be bethrothed to one of my most talented disciples, and I invited all of you here to share this joyous moment with me." Liang Liu Chen pointed to a young man behind him, on his face was the expression of pure joy. "This occasion will not be a happy one soon." Kang Jun whispered to himself.
"The betrothral ceremony will start tomorrow, and I have prepared rooms for all of you. But, today, my daughter is willing to match her skills with any of these reowned puglists here." Liang Liu Chen bekconed towards a door, and a woman walked out. There was a veil over her head, cover her face, and she was wearing a long slik red dress. The dress dropped over her womanly curves, making her look like a fairy that had just come down from heaven. Whispers immediately sounded from the crowd upon seeing Liang Gu Niang, it was true that the rumours about her were still not good enough. Kang Jun looked at her without interest, he had seen many beautiful woman in his days, of course Li Yi far surpassed the rest...A young man jumped up from his seat and faced the young lady in an empty space infront of the spectators. "Jun Gong Zi would like to see how Liang Gu Niang's skills are.." He greeted Liang Gu Niang, she bowed gracefully, and with her melodious voice, quietly said, "It is my pleasure, but please forgive me if I'm not good enough." The both of them pulled out their swords and a fierce battle started. Kang Jun sat up quickly, quick to notice the prowess of the young lady's skills. She was quick, and her arm movements were sharp and fierce. Soon, Jun Gong Zi was sadly thrown out of the ring. Defeated shamlessly, he made his way out of the building. More and more men jumped out, but after a few minutes, they were all thrown out of the ring. This lady...why had she been kept a secret from the pugilistic world for so long? She was so far the best woman fighter they had seen so far...Then, Kang Jun stepped out. He would test this woman, and shame Liang Liu Chen's daughter infront of everyone. "I take this chance to battle with Liang Gu Niang." Then pulling out his sword immediately, he stepped forward towards Liang Gu Niang, swinging his sword around fiercely. His opponent bravely blocked his attempts successfully, and a fierce fight countinued. Swords clashing and the sound of the wind rushing could be heard, people sat, stuck to their seats, watching the battle intently. Finally, he saw his chance, using his sword he whipped off the veil. Liang Gu Niang swung around, and finally came to a stop. Kang Jun dropped his sword in shock. Li Yi. Her beautiful eyes stared at him, and they stood unmoving for a long time. Finally, using a whip from her veil, Li Yi 'picked' up her veil, and fled out of the room.
That night, Kang Jun sat silently in his room, sipping from a cup of tea. His mind drifted back to that afternoon, when he saw Li Yi again...She had left him for that man didn't she! Just because she probably that he wasn't good enough for her..But, old feelings had risen again, the deep love he once shared with Li Yi now cut into his heart like a sharp knife, whenever he thought that Li Yi was going to be married..but not to him. Then again...why did his enemy have to be Li Yi's father? Was heaven really punishing him for his countless murders? Suddenly, the sound of a flute pierced the still air, Li Yi.
Kang Jun flew up onto the roof top, and there, without fail, was Li Yi, now dressed in plain commoner clothes, faithfully blowing her precious flute. She still looked as beautiful as ever, it only seemed that she had grown more subtle, more submissive, and her eyes were gloomy now, as if they held a pain that had never been suppressed..."Li Yi." Li Yi turned round in horror, and without warning she suddenly jumped down and ran....Kang Jun followed after her, managing to grab her hand and embracing her in his arms. What he never expected was Li Yi pushing his arms away, "Go away!"
Kang Jun stood rooted to the ground, his mind reeled in shock. Why was he so stupid again? He actually thought that Li Yi was still harbouring feelings for him..."Li Yi...why? Why leave?" Li Yi took 3 steps back, "Kang Jun, I'm sorry, I decieved you...please, I'm getting bethrothed tomorrow, just leave me alone.." Upon saying that, she ran away to her room. Kang Jun balled up his fist and slammed it into one of the nearby pillars, when he let go, his knuckles were covered with blood. "Why? Why punish me like that?!" He shouted.
"Xiao Jie..I heard.." Xiao Shan ran towards her mistress as she walked in the door. Her face was an ashen white, and after closing the doors behind her, she sunk to the door. "Xiao Shan, I really have no more energy left...no more..." Then, Li Yi's whole body slumped into a dead faint. "Xiao Jie, Xiao Jie, someone, call the physician!" Xiao Shan screamed, shaking Li Yi's limp body.
Xiao Shan watched her pale young mistress on the bed, her mind debated, Should she tell him? "Water..I want water.." Li Yi croaked. "Here...just give me a minute Xiao Jie.." Xiao Shan frantically poured a glass of water for Li Yi and tipped it up to Li Yi's lips. "Kang Jun...don't go...please.." Xiao Shan could barely make out the illegible words that Li Yi was mumbling..Why was Li Yi torturing herself like this?
"Ou Gong Zi! Please wait!" Kang Jun heard a voice behind him, and he turned around to see a young girl, dressed in servant clothes behind him. "You are..." "I'm Liang Xiao Jie's maid, you were watching my mistress weren't you?" Xiao Shan walked around Kang Jun, yes, she could see why her mistress had fallen for this certain swordsman. He seemed to be of noble blood, as he had a certain air in the way he tilted his chin up and stared down at her. His striking good looks were looking at her, trying not to show the anxious look it actually hid. "I wasn't. Why would I be watching a woman who is about to get married?" Kang Jun said in a proud tone. No, even though Li Yi wasn't married yet, he wasn't going to lose his pride as a man by telling this young servant maid that he had been eyeing her mistress from a distance. Xiao Shan felt a rage of anger bottling up in her stomach. This man obviously cared and loved her young mistress, but he was just too proud to admit it. Why couldn't he even look past the veil of pretence that Li Yi was hiding behind, and look at the Li Yi, the Li Yi who was dying inside because of her love for him. "I wish...I wish that Liang Xiao Jie had never fallen in love with you, but De Long Gong Zi, as I can see that he truly loves her. And I wouldn't be here if not for Liang Xiao Jie, who is killing herself bit by bit because of you, you, I'm sorry to say, Ou Gong Zi, you don't deserve my young mistress!" And with that, Xiao Shan ran off back to Li Yi's room. Kang Jun stood rooted to the ground, stunned by the piercing words that the young servant had just said.
Xiao Shan stared at her weeping mistress in shock. Was she really giving up on true love? Although she had spoken those harsh words to Ou Gong Zi, in his eyes she could see that he still loved Li Yi...De Long...He was a nice guy, and he seemed to love Li Yi alot, visting her room almost every day that Li Yi was away...but Li Yi wouldn't be happy with him..how could she? Her love was standing a distance away, a distance where she could only look and admire, and after she got married, she would never be able to jump in those arms of his again.
"Ou Gong Zi, what a coincidence to meet you here!" De Long pretended to be suprised upon seeing Kang Jun. "Yes, I was just having a walk." Kang Jun replied in the same cold tone, he had always been suspicious of this man, he seemed to be like a wolf in sheep's clothing, although Kang Jun could not explain why..."Congratulations on your marriage to Liang Xiao Jie...I can see that she is a woman of fine caliber, after dueling with her." Kang Jun told De Long. De Long sneeked a peek at Kang Jun. Ha! He still didn't know that De Long knew about Li Yi and Kang Jun's relationship. "She is...I'm happy that she is willing to be my bride. We had been childhood sweethearts before don't you know? I'm glad that she came back...I had missed her." De Long replied in a pasty voice. "De Long Gong Zi, I think I'll return to my room tonight. Good bye." Kang Jun walked slowly away from De Long. He couldn't stand that man any longer. De Long thought wickedly to himself, "Kang Jun, Kang Jun...Don't think that Li Yi will return to you...I will marry her, and become the chief of the Bai Long Sect!" A wicked laughter sounded through the dark night sky.
Li Yi fingered the delicate flute, and listened as the crickets sounded out their calls to each other. Tommorow, she would be a married woman. Happily, she didn't know, but she just wanted to spend her last night alone...Oh, how she wished that she could just flee into the nightsky, be like one of those birds, who fly freely everyday..or those stars that could just hover above the world, enjoying the beautiful scenery below. But she would be the Lady of the Bai Long Sect, for in two weeks time after her marriage, her father was going to pass the sect's leadership title to De Long, and she would lead a lonely life, forever trying to uphold the name of the Bai Long Sect. The old Li Yi had to be killed.
"Li Yi, I have to talk to you." Kang Jun grabbed Li Yi's hand, afraid that she would flee like the other time. He had combed the estate for hours, until he had found her at the lonely stream behind the house. "Ou Gong Zi...I told you..we have nothing to do with each other anymore..." Li Yi's eyes grew wide with fear and anguish, why did fate have to torture her? Kang Jun pulled Li Yi into his arms, tightly. Li Yi struggled madly, but with no avail. Kang Jun was too strong. "Li Yi...that servant girl was right, I wasn't good enough for you, I'm a man with no feelings, but too much pride in his stomach...Li Yi, please..don't torture me like this, I know I'm wrong!" Li Yi felt a flicker of hope, but suddenly, it died out, as the thoughts of De Long swept into her mind. "Kang Jun! I explained it all in my letter! I don't love you! You're supposed to hate me! Get lost Kang Jun, I want to be happily married tomorrow!" Li Yi pushed him away, and starting running. Suddenly, something dropped out of her pocket. Kang Jun picked it up, and stared at it. "Li Yi! You lied! Don't lie to yourself, you love me!" He shouted. Li Yi stopped running. "What makes you think so?" She whispered fiercely to herself. "Then why did you keep this?" Kang Jun held the familier stone up in her face. The one with the dragon imprint on it. "Don't decieve yourself Li Yi..I still love you...But I should have figured it out earlier. Your infatuation with dragons, especially white ones, you were the precious daughter of the Bai Long Sect...the elite sect, who's legend has it the founder was the son of a dragon daughter and a mortal man.." Kang Jun held the stone up, as if it was the key to all the secrets the world kept.
Tears trickled down Li Yi's face, she couldn't back down anymore..Kang Jun was right..but how could she escape from fate? "Kang Jun..you are right, I have loved you all along. But I had to leave you I'm sorry, I had to fufil my duty, my duty...Kang Jun, please forgive me..We were too different, a warrior and a noble, we would never have a future. Just let me go.." Li Yi did not dare to look at Kang Jun. Pain stabbed her tender heart, she was doing the right thing. She was. "Li Yi, I understand. But I'll love you. Forever." Kang Jun stood in silence, so all he did and said had been in vain. She wouldn't give in and go back to him. Slowly, he took out the little wooden flute from his belt, and began playing. It was the tune that Li Yi had taught him. Only now it was a tune that contained anguish and hurt, lovelorn and hate. With a strangled cry, Li Yi ran away into the dead night.
Kang Jun watched angrily as the bride and groom kneeled down infront of the altar. How he had the urge to run over and pull Li Yi away from De Long's side, and embrace her in his arms. But no, her father had to seperate them...just when he thought he finally had her, he lost her. How could a sweet, charming girl like Li Yi come out from a vile, ruthless and cruel man like Liang Liu Chen? That was one thing he did not understand.
Li Yi looked through the thin slik veil that covered her face, staring up at her ancestors tablets, she suddenly felt a sense of dread. Kang Jun was right behind her, his eyes piercing right into her weak soul, she could feel it. Suddenly, a bright light swished past her face, and when she looked up, she saw a sword, pointed straight at her father's throat. Kang Jun. "Kang Jun, what are you doing?" She screamed, jumping up to her feet and whipping the veil off her face. "Li Yi, that is not your father. You cannot marry De Long!" He shouted, not taking his eyes off the sword. Kicking the sword away, Li Yi began a fierce duel with Kang Jun, "Li Yi..what are you doing?" Kang Jun defended himself, taking extra caution not to hurt her. "Kang Jun..like they say, blood is thicker than water, I can't let you hurt my father!" Li Yi charged towards Kang Jun. She didn't want to do this, but...."Li Yi, that's not your father!" Kang Jun shouted desperately. Confused and scared, Li Yi just charged on relentlessly, fighting against the lover whom she had loved, and still had.
Liang Bang Zhu watched in amusement as the two youngsters fought in the middle of the room. It was just so like Li Yi, always trying to do the right thing, no matter how much she didn't want to. He had knew of Li Yi's and Kang Jun's relationship all along..and bring Li Yi back would certainly lead Kang Jun here too...and his revenge would be complete. He hadn't managed to kill the most important member of the Ou family. Their only heir, Ou Kang Jun. Spotting a chance to strike, he drove his sword in between the couple, heading for Kang Jun. But what he didn't expect was Li Yi to charge in..placing herself between the sword and Kang Jun, "Noooo!"
please proceed to the next chapter
Liang Liu Chen gripped his sword tightly. His face grew red with anger, not because of the might be loss of his maid, but that he didn't manage to kill Kang Jun in one, single, swift stroke. Precious time had been wasted, and now that everyone was watching the pathetic group in the middle, it would be only to tarnish his reputation if he kill them in full view of everyone. In any case, Kang Jun was too close to Li Yi. And killing Li Yi now...it would be too foolish to do so. She was an important pawn in his game, like the king or queen in fact...And now she was weeping over an useless servant, Liang Liu Chen almost threw his head back to laugh. "Liang Bang Zhu, what do we do now?" De Long asked frantically, not taking his eyes off Li Yi. "De Long..why are you in such a hurry to marry my daughter. Don't worry, she's yours." A sly smile twitched at the corners of his lips. Suddenly, Kang Jun ran up and grabbed Liang Liu Chen's clothes. "You...you...hypocrite! I can see through you...everything...just everything.." Kang Jun hissed.
Kang Jun stared, eyes full of hatred at Liang Liu Chen. He had been too foolish, why did he act just because he remembered what his mother had shown him. A family potrait of the Liang family. Their fathers had been friends before, he remembered vaguely, and the Liangs were a prestigious family in those parts, but now, their fame had rose to greater heights, while the Ou family had been stomped to the ground...And Li Yi...his heart, felt torn..depressed..what could he do now?
Kang Jun watched Li Yi in despair..Seeing her clutch her dead servant in tears, made him feel like his heart was getting torn apart into pieces, bit by bit..and now, could he bear to kill her father? However big a scumbag he was? "Kang Jun...you...why did you have to do this? Why must you ruin my wedding?" Li Yi pointed the sword at Kang Jun's neck. Her used to be neatly pinned up hair was now flowing freely around her face, her wedding outfit was now wrinkled and covered with blood, and her beautiful face was white and pale, tearstreaked...Her eyes contained a look of hate and disgust, and he could recognize the wish to kill, the mad fury in her eyes, he had all experienced it before....
Li Yi stared at the glinting metal of the sharp sword. Kang Jun...she loved him so deeply, but now..was he going to kill everyone that she loved and adored? The 3 of them stood still, Kang Jun's sword threatening to kill her father, while Li Yi's sword pointing towards him, as if saying that if he made one single wrong move..the consequences would be fatal..."Li Yi..you don't want to do this.." Kang Jun stammered, shocked that his own loved one would be threatening to kill him. "Li Yi...I'm your father...so, kill him..he's a danger to us." Liang Liu Chen stared at his daughter, watching her, scared, but also trying to be brave..torn between family and love..."Li Yi!" Kang Jun shouted. "Don't listen to him! He isn't your father!" Kang Jun screamed, Li Yi couldn't make the wrong decision...it would just destroy everything.."Li Yi. Listen to Kang Jun. He isn't lying." An unfamilier voice came from the door. Turning their heads towards the mysterious figure, they saw a slightly old woman, who's face still held beauty, her hand was clutching a sword, and a bag of clothes. "Cheng Sao!" Kang Jun shouted.
Li Yi watched, confused once again. What was happening? Why did this strange woman know her name? Why did her father recognize her? "Liu Chen, why did u do this? Why did you kill this innocent boy's family?" Cheng Sao pointed to Kang Jun, but stared hard at Liang Liu Chen. "Cheng Fang...I....I..." He stammered. "They stopped us! They objected to our relationship from the start..what could I do? I hated them...I thought that they had pushed you down from the cliff.." Li Yi mind whirled, her father, had a relationship with this woman?! But then...her mother...? "Liu Chen, they objected, but they never killed me. I slipped myself. Ou Fu Jin found me at the bottom of the cliff and helped me, hiding me in a tiny cottage at the bottom of the cliff, not allowing her husband to find out...And we were never meant to be together Liu Chen...how can you torture this young couple like this?!" Cheng Sao shouted, overcome by anger that had been suppressed for so long. "Torture them? I haven't enjoyed this enough yet! My own brother...He had always looked down on me, he had found the love of his life, the woman I had fallen in love with first, and when I had you, he had to seperate us! Do you call this fair? Do you!" Liang Liu Chen clutched his fist in anger and stress, his jaw was fixed, his teeth were clenched.
Kang Jun watch as the two people infront of him, Cheng Sao and Liang Liu Chen, bickered. Cheng Sao, the kindly lady who took him in, and Liang Liu Chen, whom he was ordered to kill. And Liang Liu Chen was Li Yi's father, what was happening? Suddenly, he heard a strangled sob from Li Yi. "No...no...What is happening? My head hurts..I don't want to think anymore...just let me die!" Li Yi used the sword in her arm and was about to slit her own throat when Kang Jun quickly grabbed it from her. "Li Yi...Don't...please...I can't live without you.." He embraced her, the first real intimate moment they had in weeks, and Li Yi cried, tortured by the things, the happenings of the last generation.
Cheng Fang smirked at the crowd and started to tell her story..."25 years ago, I was a cousin of the Ou Family, taken in by Ou Bang Zhu, out of kindness after my parents died of an epidemic in our town. I worked as a helped in the house, earning a salary, taking care of Ou Fu Jin, tending to her every need. Although I was named as a servant, I was also treated like part of the family, eating with them at the table, sharing their joys and sorrows, listening to the oldest Ou sister's and Ou Fu Jin's worries and problems. I was their confident, their close friend, as Ou Bang Zhu had been a childhood playmate of mine, but as we had moved away, we had drifted apart. I met Liang Gong Zi by chance, as he was still a young gentleman at the time, when I was buying cloth for Ou Fu Jin at the shop. He was choosing a present for his mother, and I gave him a hand...Soon, we grew closer, and we fell in love, sneaking out by night, meeting at the orchard. But alas, the two families found out about us, and as Liang Gong Zi was supposed to be bethrothed to another lady, conflicts rose. My cousin felt although Liang Gong Zi's father was a good friend of his, Liang Gong Zi was a two-timer, unfit for me. The two families finally broke their friendship, and I felt so terrible..as this was all caused by me, by love..."
" Like I said, it was a relationship meant to be broken from the start, a relationship that would not have any happy ending...One day, Liang Gong Zi decided that we had to elope, but Ou Bang Zhu found out...and stopped us...in a moment of confusion, I slipped and fell down the cliff. But, Liu Chen, I didn't die, no, I didn't, I was found by Ou Fu Jin, and she nursed me back to full health. Only when I finally climbed out of the valley, then I found out the dreaded and cold-blooded things that Liang Gong Zi had done! Slaughtered the family...no wonder Ou Fu Jin had disappeared...but when I found their graves in a deep part of a forest, Kang Jun's grave was not amongst them...and so my search began, I wanted to get my revenge so dearly, to kill the very man I once loved, but who later killed the beloved family I served...but later, after much asking around, I found out the real truth, the scandal behind this scandal...Liu Chen, surrender yourself! Don't decieve the world anymore..." Cheng Fang turned to everyone. "This is not Liang Liu Chen, the chief of the Bai Long sect, but Liang Liu Chang, the second brother of the Bai Long Sect."
Li Yi looked at her father, then to Cheng Sao. "I don't understand. My father has always been my father, how could he turn into another person?" Li Yi pushed Kang Jun away and marched up to Cheng Sao. "Li Yi, listen. Believe me, don't let your parents down, I did, and now I face the consequences. Like I said, your father is actually your oldest uncle. Both families stop us from being together, they both believe that both were not good enough for their loved one. Your father, Li Yi, told your grandfather about it. He just loved Liu Chang too much to let him go to doom Li Yi, of course I hated him at first...but later I realised what he did was the best for the both of us. You see, I was a relative of your family too, as my father was the cousin of your father, and it was impossible for us to be together. But only Liu Chen, your grandfather, Ou Bang Zhu and Ou Fu Jin knew. Liu Chen was furious, he became power hungry, revengeful, it was as if the love he once had for me was destroyed by his evil thoughts. He thought up countless schemes, but waited until after your grandfather's death to start on them, as your grandfather had disowned him. First, he bribed many of your father's most trusted men, and turned against your father, killing him and impersonating him. Then, after your mother found out, he sent an assasin to kill her too, shooting a poisonous arrow through the door. Later, he masscared the Ou family with the Liang troops, the Ou's were not prepared...they died a horrible death...Kang Jun..I'm so sorry. Li Yi, your uncle was a clever man, he managed to fool everyone, all the disciples, killing those that knew your father the best, claming that they were not fit to be disciples, and fooling your brothers, he was a great actor. But he couldn't fool me. How could he? I loved him, and I knew him more than he knew himself." Cheng Sao pushed the sword closer to Liu Chang's throat. "But debts need to be repaid, Liu Chang."
"Cheng Fang, you were always too clever, too clever for your own good." Flicking out a hidden weapon from his coat, the sword got hit away. Suddenly, Li Yi saw the sharp blade of a sword being pointed at her instead. "Liu Chen. Liu Chang. You have lied to me all my life. How could you? I'm your niece?!" Li Yi showed no sign of fear, her eyes were fixed on this man, the man who could possibly ruined her life. "My niece?" Liu Chang threw his head back and laughed. "I hated you...I hated you from the start. If you hadn't been born, I wouldn't have need to go through bringing you up, sending you to your maternal grandfather for such a long time...waiting until you were gone so that I could perform my 'act'." Liu Chang spat the words out with such disgust, now was his chance to get rid of the thorn in his flesh, finally. "But...you can't have fooled everyone, even my uncles? You couldn't possibly wear a mask for eternity..." Li Yi stammered. "That's because he didn't Li Yi. He's Liu Chen's twin brother!" Kang Jun called out. Everything fit in. It finally did. "I'll kill you!" Li Yi screamed. As quick as lightning she drew her sword out, and without a thought, charged towards her new enemy.
Li Yi gritted her teeth and wielded her sword...She could do this...she had to...for her parents...for all those innocent lives that were lost at his hands...."Die, Niang, I didn't do my duty as your daughter...but trust me Die, Niang, I'll gladly give up my life to kill this scum..." She repeated over and over again, taking care to block Liu Chang's swift moves. His face was twisted with evil, craziness, a craving to kill his niece..."What has happened to family ties?" Li Yi thought to herself, she shouldn't have agreed to go to her maternal grandfather to learn martial arts, she should have stayed back, and had looked for her mother's killer, and not try to run away from everything, and to be so naive...But on the other hand, she wouldn't have met Kang Jun....Li Yi almost turned to look back at him, was he worried? Oh...how she missed those moon-gazing nights...when they had not a care in the world..."Liang Bang Zhu, I beg you, don't hurt Li Yi!" A voice screamed out, grabbing Liu Chang's coat. Li Yi almost dropped her sword in shock. De Long. "De Long, what are you doing!" Liu Chang tried to pry De Long's hands away from his coat, but De Long held on tightly. "Liu Bang Zhu...please don't kill her...I'll help you take her in hand, I'll really do..." Li Yi could almost see the desperate tears forming in his eyes. Maybe De Long really loved her...Maybe he did....but he had grown evil, under the hand of his chief..."Enough! De Long...you were just a useless pawn in my chess board....I don't need you anymore..." Liu Chang raised his sword and swiftly sliced at De Long.
Li Yi ran towards the dying De Long and knelt down beside him. "De Long...you didn't have to do this..." De Long clutched his injured chest and coughed out blood. "Li Yi...Dying for you, its the most honourable moment of my life...I've always loved you, ever since I set eyes on you...But you never loved me back...and I lived with that, but then you fell in love with that...that swordsman...I couldn't take it Li Yi...I was prepared to kill him, to get you...but now, I learn, love cannot be forced, it must be reciprocated willingly...and I'll always love you..." With that, De Long's body grew limp and his head fell over in a sickening slump. Li Yi weeped again, for the innocent childhood playmate of hers, who grew up to be a ruthless right hand man to Liu Chang, all because he wanted to be loved back...
Liu Chang saw it that it was a great opprtunity for him to strike out...Raising his bloodied sword once again, he was about to strike the weeping Li Yi when a small stone hit his sword away. "What the...." He looked up to see who had the audencity to go against him. But all he saw was an old man, clutching a wooden stick, his hair streaked with white. He wore a weather-beaten cloaked around him and had a long beard. But that couldn't hide his unmistakable face. Liu Chang stared it horror, it couldn't be...how could it....
The old man whipped of his hood and everyone gasped. The two men stood in the centre of the room, not breaking the gaze, but the strangest thing was that they looked exactly alike, only that the strange man looked more tired, and older. But Kang Jun wasn't fazed. Ha, he had known this all along...the painting that his mother had shown him, the painting that she had painted for the Liang family as a gift, the various members of the family, the brothers and their family, and their children that lay proudly in their hands...
*Flashback*
"Niang, who's this?" Kang Jun pointed to two people at the right top hand corner of the painting who had their arms around each other, "They're your father's good friends...See, they look exactly alike, they're twins...But only the older one is married, look at all his children!" Ou Fu Jin smiled as she traced her son's finger around the family. "Remember son, we are good friends, we don't go against each other..." Kang Jun looked up and smiled at his mother, he would always remember her words...
He did not forget. The twin brothers of the Liang family. The brotherhood bond that couldn't be broken by anything. Now, they were at loggerheads, fighting for both justice, love, selfishness, their own lives. "I didn't die, brother. You killed my servant, Xiao Kang instead. Did you really think I was so stupid? All along...I knew that you wanted my position and my head..." Liu Chang suddenly dropped his sword and bowed his head. "Da Ge, I...I never wanted to harm you...but you had to drive that wedge between me and Cheng Fang..." Cheng Sao flinched. "Brother, I no longer want to forgive you...You have created too much trouble, broken our family..." Liu Chen replied in a cold monetone. Then, Liu Chang lifted up his head, his eyes filled with crazed horror, "I'm your brother, can't you forgive me? I was just waiting for you to come back..." Li Yi almost got taken in by Liu Chang's acting skills. But then, she still couldn't believe her eyes, her real father wasn't dead...he was alive..."I will never forgive you." Liu Chen fiercely whispered. "Then, I won't give in brother, you either forgive me or I'll kill you!" Liu Chang screamed out. "You killed my wife. I'll never forgive you." Liu Chen repeated quietly. "Then, I'll kill you...I'll kill everyone...I kill the world...I rule it..." Kang Jun realised that Liu Chang had gone crazy. There was a strange faraway in his look as he glanced around the room...Suddenly, he picked up his sword and charged at Liu Chen, but just as he was about to strike him, another sword came flying out of the air and pierced through his body...
Liu Chang's dead body fell onto the hard floor with a sickly 'thump', just a few steps away from Liu Chen. Li Yi stood over his body, and pulled her sword out, she tilted her chin up, finally, she had killed this scumbag. "Li Yi, come here, I want to look at you." A kindly voice drifted from behind, Li Yi turned, her eyes welled up with tears, as she ran straight into her father's arms.
Everything seemed like a dream come true. Kang Jun breathed into Li Yi's soft sliky hair and smiled...Liu Chang had demanded their marriage as soon as possible, but the only auspicious date was in two months time...Kang Jun could scarely believe that Liu Chang did not object to them tying the knot, anyway, who would want their daughters marrying a ex-killer? But he could still remember Liu Chang's exact words, "I would never want my daughter to marry anyone but you, because you are her pillar of strength, and was there when I was not around..." His mind went back to the old days, when he still had that cold look on his face, carrying around that sword bloodied by the many he killed...Li Yi had seemed like a sun ray, shooting right into the midst of his chest, melting the cold heart that resided within...Crazy as it seemed, it all became true...
Liu Chang gazed out of his window at the two young lovers who were sitting at the lakeside, just enjoying the peace and quiet. Even though he felt happy for his daughter and Kang Jun, somehow...A tinge of sadness still kept alive in his heart. The loss of his wife and his brother...He had only survived for the sake of his wife and daughter, but instead found out the only the latter was still alive...How he had survived that fall down the cliff, he himself didn't know, perhaps it was Heaven's will...But his brother, that was the saddest thing of all. They had been so close...What exactly had broken them apart? But now, no one would know, Liu Chen was dead...Liu Chang's eyes suddenly darted to the dark sky above as a solitary dove flew down and landed on a branch belongning to a tree that grew just above where Li Yi and Kang Jun were sitting. Its soft eyes focused on Liu Chang, and a warmth spread all over his body, it was his wife. She had come back.
The two heads of the young couple neared towards each other, lips touching softly at first, then as passion grasped their minds, blew into a hungry kiss...Thus the love story of the couple who escaped seperation, the couple who love never diminished, ends....
